A loud explosion in the middle of the night sent Portsmouth police and firefighters rushing to Vinton Avenue, where they discovered a vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
The call came in around 4:24 a.m. when a resident reported hearing a loud boom and then seeing fire in the area.
🔥 VEHICLE FOUND BURNING
Portsmouth police and the Portsmouth Fire Department responded to the scene and found a vehicle on fire.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze while officers secured the area.
The vehicle was heavily damaged and later towed from the scene.
🚔 OWNER SUSPECTS FIRE WAS SET
While investigating the incident, officers spoke with one of the vehicle’s owners.
According to the report, the owner said he could not think of many reasons someone would want to set the vehicle on fire, but acknowledged there had been ongoing personal disputes involving the vehicle’s ownership.
The report notes the vehicle was jointly owned, and disagreements over ownership and title issues had reportedly caused tension in recent months.
🔎 FIRE MARSHAL TO REVIEW CASE
Police gathered information from those connected to the vehicle and passed it along to fire officials.
The case was forwarded to fire investigators for further review to determine whether the blaze was accidental or intentionally set.
At this stage, no criminal charges have been filed.
❓ ACCIDENT OR ARSON?
Vehicle fires can start for a variety of reasons, including mechanical failures, electrical problems, fuel leaks, or intentional acts.
The loud boom reported by witnesses and the circumstances surrounding the vehicle have prompted investigators to take a closer look.
For now, the cause remains undetermined.
What began as a loud noise in the early morning hours has become a mystery that fire investigators will now attempt to solve.
